Can you guide me to an organization in the Central NY area that have dogs that can be adopted that just did not make the cut at a Companion training program? Don’t they go up for adoption? But where? Thanks!

–ST

Lots of blood, sweat, and tears went into the creation of this list.

I scoured many websites to find the exact adoption pages of each service dog organization.

This allows you to just click directly on the link and voila…you’re at either the career change/retired service dog adoption page, the actual adoption form, or a page with more information on the organization’s adoption program.

QUICK RECOMMENDATION: Before you adopt a puppy or even think about adopting read a good book like Puppies for Dummies. This will give you a solid foundation on how to raise, train, and socialize a puppy. Career change service dogs have a solid foundation in obedience, house manners, and socialization, but you’ll have to maintain this excellence by continuing with your adopted pup’s training.

The Ultimate List Of Service Dog Schools With Adoption Programs

So without further adieu. Here’s our ultimate list of service dog organizations and their career change/retired service dog adoption page:

California

Bergin University – this is a direct link to the Bergin University of Canine Studies Release Dog Application.

Canine Companions for Independence – I couldn’t find the adoption page, but here’s a link to the FAQ page with this information: “Should the dog be unsuitable for placement in any working role, the puppy raiser may adopt the dog as their pet or Canine Companions will place the dog in an approved home from our release dog wait list. A $500 adoption fee applies to everyone other than the puppy raiser of the dog.”

Guide Dogs for the Blind – A link to the GDB adoption page and application form. “There is a $750 adoption fee (not tax deductible), collected at the time of adoption, if a suitable match becomes available.”

Guide Dogs of America – there is a link on this page that goes directly to the adoption form. You might have to exercise patience if you apply for a career change GDA dog as the waiting list to adopt a dog is over six years.

Guide Dogs of the Desert – from the training program page: “…If they cannot take the dog, we have a very long waiting list of people who would like to adopt a retired guide. The decision to retrain a dog is up to the school and is based on the age, health, and individual situation.”

Tender Loving Canine Assistance Dogs – Here’s a link to their adoption page. “TLCAD receives more inquiries for career change dog adoption than we have dogs available. Our selection process is based on suitability rather than a first-come, first-serve basis. Dogs are matched with adoptees taking into the consideration of the needs of both the dog and the potential adoptee and their family.”

Colorado

Canine Partners of the Rockies – This links directly to the FAQ page with more information on how to adopt a released dog: “A released dog may also be available for adoption as a pet dog. For more information on the Released Dog Program go to the “Our Dogs” link.”

Connecticut

Florida

Southeastern Guide Dogs – Link to the public adoption page: “There is a $3,000 recovery fee required for the adoption of a Southeastern Guide Dog made available through Public Adoption.”

Indiana

ICAN – This links to the ICAN adoption page. At the time of this writing they are not accepting release dog applications.

Keystone Human Services – Link to the adopting a released dog page. “Because of careful breeding and serious puppy classes, the adoption fee is $1,000.”

Kansas

KSDS Assistance Dogs, Inc. – Link to the adoption page. “Career Change Dogs are wonderful dogs who are happy and healthy, but just not suited to working for a living or have been retired from a working partnership. These dogs make excellent loving pets and companions.”

Massachusetts

NEADS – Link to their adopt a pet dog page. At NEADS, a “furloughed favorite” is a dog who, for behavioral, temperamental or medical reasons, doesn’t meet our strict standards to become a working dog.

Michigan

Leader Dogs for the Blind – Link to career change adoption page including information on requirements for adoptees and additional info. on their career change dogs.

Minnesota

PawPADS – Link to their “Dogs” page with a section for career change dogs.

Missouri

C.H.A.M.P. Assistance Dogs – Link to the FAQ page which has information on released dogs: “If you would like to be considered as a potential home for one of our released dogs, please Contact Us and we will send a Companion Animal Placement application for you to complete and return.”

New Hampshire

New Jersey

The Seeing Eye – Link to their adopt a dog page. “Qualified applicants may reduce the waiting time and be placed on the VIP adoption list if they have given a gift of $25,000 (USD) or more in the past twenty four months.”

Pennsylvania

Canine Partners For Life – Direct link to the adoption page with instruction on how to adopt: “Interested individuals or families who would like to adopt one of CPL’s released dogs should complete a released dog application.

Virginia

Washington

Brigadoon Service Dogs – If you have interest in giving a forever home to a dog who has been released from the service dog program, please click on the link to indicate your interest should one come available.

Summit Assistance Dogs – Link to “Our Dogs” page: “Many people contact us about adopting a dog that did not meet the stringent requirements to become a service dog. To view our career-changed dogs, please visit our web page at Petfinder.”

Wisconsin

Canada

Sorry I didn’t separate this section by province. If the section gets much larger or if I get enough requests I’ll update by province.

The Ability Center – Adopt a Fabulous Flunky! This is the adoption page, but unfortunately…”NOTE: We are currently not accepting applications at this time due to a large waitlist. Check back soon!”

Autism Dog Services – A direct link to their adoption application form. From their website: “ADS puppies and dogs in training may be released from their training programs at any time. ADS puppies or dogs that do not meet our criteria for behaviour, health or temperament are disqualified and adopted out as pet dogs…”

Canadian Guide Dogs for the Blind – A link to their career change guide dog page: “Our list of applicants who are interested in receiving one of our career change dogs is currently closed…If the list is going to be opened (depending on whether we need more people), it will open on the first working day of the month” Click the link for more information.

Dogs with Wings – Link to their FAQ page: “Dogs that are not placed as Guide or Service Dogs, and are not needed for our Skilled Companion Dog program are only very rarely available, and its best to call the office for more information.”

Dog Guides – Due to an overwhelming number of requests and a lengthy waitlist, we are no longer receiving applications for career-change/retired dog adoptions. Should this situation change, information about the adoption process will become available here.

National Service Dogs – Link to career change dog page. Wait times are a year or longer and he timing of a Career Change Dog placement is determined by chronological position on the waiting list.

QUICK RECOMMENDATION: Career changed service dogs have a good foundation in obedience, house manners, and socialization, but before you bring home your new career change service dog we’d again like to recommend Puppies for Dummies as a good book on the basics of raising and training your new dog or puppy. We read Puppies for Dummies before we brought home our first adopted puppy, Linus.

Intersted in adopting a career change service dog? Check out our ultimate list of service dog schools with adoption prorams.

About Colby

Colby Morita has raised guide and service dog puppies for Guide Dogs of America and Canine Support Teams. He's been writing to the PuppyInTraining.com blog and sharing his puppy training tips from his experiences as a guide dog puppy raiser since 2007.

Thanks for the great list. TSA has been advertising lately that they are looking for families to adopt retired and flunkee service dogs, in San Antonio. Makes me think that some of the other DHS service dog programs (Customs and Border Control) probably have adoption programs too. Or other government agencies.

Thanks for sharing, Mandy! I had seen some things on TSA looking for families to adopt dogs from their programs. Maybe I’ll dig a little deeper to see if I can find information on some these programs and add them to the list. If you have any information that would be relevant I’d love to read about and improve our ultimate list!

All though my state (NC) does not have a state wide adopt a retired service dog or failed guide did I found that my sister state (SC) does. I have applied for a retired/ failed dog because of their training as well as their disposition. My fingers ( and toes lol) are crossed.

Hi My Name is Cherelle Barber I am currently living in Kodiak Alaska. I am considered leaiglly blind. I have a form of Cerebral Palsy. I have some anger issues but havent seen anybody about them. I have seizures, but I am on medication that helps controls them. But it has been five years since I have had a seizure. I still tend to forget if and when I took my medication.

The type of Assistance dog that I am trying to obtain is a Guide Mobility Assistance Medication Reminder Service Dog. There isnt a trainer or Program in Alaska that can help me with my search. I also have friends that have been trying to assist me with this reseach. I am also trying to help them their own research as well. I am in a program that is for the disabled for children and adults with different types of special needs, and we are located in Kodiak. I might be moving out of my grandparents house and moving in to an apartment at the end of this year.

Are there any breeders in Alaska that is willing to help my friends and I out without having family members and friends thinking that my friends and I have been faking our disabilities that we have been diagnosed with since birth or recently diagnosed with. Thanks for the add to the group. thanks for your help with my research and education. I have moderate spastic quad cerebral palsy I was physically mentality emotionally psychology and sexually abused throughout my childhood. I am allergic to seafood dust mites and pollen I also have been allergic to strawberries milk and cigarette smoke but I was able too outgrow that thanks for helping me out with my multiple disabilities